At the 45th Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y., the fans will be noisy, enthusiastic, and ready to cheer on their teams.
One man who has enjoyed being part of the festivities at the Ryder Cup is Rob Riggle. Acclaimed as a talented actor and a dedicated officer in the Marines, Riggle has been serving and making people laugh for decades.
Recognized for his television and film roles—think Saturday Night Live, Modern Family, and The Hangover—Riggle joined the Marines at the age of 19 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after nine years of active duty and 14 years in the reserves.
Through all his endeavors, Riggle stayed connected with golf as both a fan and player. Keep going to learn a little more from the man himself.
What is your favorite Ryder Cup memory?
I have two. Hosting the Opening Ceremonies for the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits is one. Then, getting to play in the celebrity Ryder Cup Match in 2016 with Kurt Russell as my partner and winning our match! U-S-A!
If you wrote your own (brief!) golf eulogy, how would it read?
Bogey, par, birdie… it all works out in the end. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
What is your favorite course to play?
Not fair! I’m declaring a four-way tie: Sherwood Country Club, Shadow Creek, Pebble Beach, and Sage Valley Golf Club.
Which club do you hit the best?
The 7-iron. It’s a LOCK!
Any book recommendations?
Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Dr. Bob Rotella… and if you’re a golfer, let’s be honest… The Bible.
Describe everything about your ideal day of golf… Is the course new or familiar? Who are you with? When is your tee time? How many holes are you playing? What is the weather like?
I’m playing a new, beautiful course with good friends and we have an 8:47 am tee time. We are playing 18 holes with no one pushing us and no one holding us up. The weather is 70 degrees; it’s slightly overcast and… I have nowhere to be the next day.
Were you able to play much golf while on active duty as a Marine?
I was single and stationed in North Carolina. I played 18 to 36 holes on Saturday and 18 to 36 holes on Sunday and still had time to grill and watch football. Best time ever!
What projects are keeping you busy?
I’m filming more dramas now than ever before and I’m really enjoying the work. I have a new book coming out on Veteran’s Day this year (11/11/25), called Grit, Spit and Never Quit! It’s my first book. It’s a motivational memoir of sorts, and I hope people will find something in my journey that helps them with theirs.
